Many people may not know that Shanghai is not just about skyscrapers, but also about ancient tradition. Water towns near Shanghai, however, give a taste of old China. Let's explore this ambitious city with added elegance, you will get a fully-fledged feel of the ancient surroundings by just walking around the towns, with their quaint streets, waterways, and old houses.

Why Visit Water Towns?

An ancient Chinese saying goes: “In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Suzhou and Hangzhou”. Water towns are indispensable parts of the enchanting scenery of Suzhou and Hangzhou. These towns share hundreds of years of history, scenery typical of Chinese ink-paintings, traditional houses built on waterways, ancient stone-paved arched bridges and interesting folk customs; while each retains its own unique attributes.

Nanxun – the Most Soulful Ancient Town near Shanghai ,with a history of over 1,400 years. It is the richest town in modern Chinese history and totally different to other small, girly water towns: the stone roads, bridges and water ways are wide, and houses are big. The most special feature of it is, that its architecture mixes Chinese and western styles. When you enter the town, you will feel the profound water town history and be amazed by how civilized and rich it was. There are many attractions in this big water town. Local people still live in traditional residences: One-Hundred Residential Houses; this is a spot favored by shutterbugs.

If you like a small but graceful water town, Tongli Water Town is the best choice, one of the six famous ancient towns in south China along with Nanxun, Wuzhen, Zhouzhuang, Xitang and Yongzhi. It is renowned for gondola rides, beautiful water, the Tuisi Garden, the Three Bridges Area and the graceful layout.  A boat ride along the waterways is a great way to get a see the unique canal lifestyle. Hundreds of gardens established in Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty dot the town with the Tuisi Garden regarded as the best. Although mix of traders and locals are still living and working there, it is less commercialized and crowded than some other famous water towns.

Best Time to Visit Water Towns

The most beautiful seasons at these towns are spring and autumn, and the morning and the nightfall are the most charming times of the day. It’s great to escape the big city and see a little of the ancient architecture and local culture.